As in any profession, staying informed of evidence-based practices, developing trends and industry advancements is the best policy. In our post-pandemic world, so much has changed, especially within therapeutic service disciplines. In the past four years, tremendous change has occurred in how therapy is delivered, who needs therapeutic services and the demand for those services.
Many therapeutic practitioners are struggling to meet the upswing in demand. Nationally, over 41% of adults have reported signs and symptoms of stress-related illness. This number is significantly higher with young adults and teens. Unfortunately, there is no easy fix available. The new reality is the need for therapeutic services will remain in high demand for the foreseeable future. The practitioner who is aware and makes changes in community outreach and programming will gain benefits through stronger therapeutic alliances. In short, if the HT practitioner can successfully collaborate with medical practices, mental health providers and community partners, their clients as well as their practices will thrive. Horticultural therapy, utilizing the people-plant relationship, could become part of a rather complex and necessary solution.
“We cannot ignore the fact that we have been significantly changed by the loss of more than one million Americans, as well as the shift in our workplaces, school systems, and culture at large. To move toward posttraumatic growth, we must first identify and understand the psychological wounds that remain.”
~Arthur P. Evans PhD, APA
Need for Stress Management
There is an increased need for stress management. Even though the public health emergency created by COVID officially ended on May 11, 2023, the stress levels of American citizens has not diminished. A recent study by the APA, found that the collective stress we endured during the pandemic has been shifted away from the virus and on to other stressors in everyday life. Let’s face it, there is plenty to be stressed out about right now, the economy, political unrest, and global conflict to name just a few. To complicate this matter, access to therapeutic care services has become more challenging. This phenomenon is not only occurring in the US but globally as well.
Tele-health is here to stay. There are many conflicting opinions on the quality of telehealth visits. But tele-health does have the ability to reach many, where and when an in-person visit is not possible. Could this trend of tele-health services support an HT program? Having a relationship with one or several telehealth practices could support the HT practice through referrals. A co-treatment program of telehealth counseling and in-person HT interventions could be advantageous for many clients seeking a way to self-advocate and manage their stress.
The stigma around therapy is declining. It may be a stretch to call this an age of enlightenment but in recent years, there has been a definite shift in societal views regarding mental health care and treatment for a wide range of conditions. According to the WHO, there has been an increase in the acknowledgement that mental health is an important piece of person centered health care. It is now commonly accepted that untreated mental health conditions can be a determinant of pre-mature death. In many cases, preventable physical conditions are a direct consequence of a lack of mental health intervention.
As stigma continues to decrease, an urgency for therapeutic services has developed. An HT program with a wellness focus offers unique therapeutic services that can reveal the pathway to improved quality of life and overall wellbeing.
Climate anxiety is impacting both our physical and mental health. This is a big one. Climate anxiety is a global issue. It transcends race, culture, geographical location, and socio-economic status and we all share the same planet, and our home is in danger. Climate change can evoke many emotions, from fear, anger, grief, to hopelessness. If left unchecked, climate anxiety can lead to stress related illness, like depression. Taking action against climate change has shown to be effective in mitigating anxiety, especially when this action is conducted in a group setting.
Improving Health & Wellness
Purposeful action serves humans in two ways, by improving health and wellness and by creating stewardship of the surrounding environment. Such action could include carbon sink farming, incorporating native plant gardens into landscapes and educating others in the community to support a common cause. Climate anxiety mitigation through HT works on so many levels. Creating such programs will not only attract community members in need of stress management but also put the HT practitioner in a position to collaborate with other organizations supporting climate change action, thus becoming part of the solution.
It is common knowledge that Americans have been living with high levels of distress for the last several years. Because of this, certain trends have emerged that will continue to shape how health care is delivered. Staying aware of changes and developments is essential for the future of horticultural therapy. This can be accomplished by seeking blog posts, newsletters and podcasts that discuss research, evidence-based practice guidelines and developing trends within our healthcare system. Attending continuing education classes and webinars focused on best practice methods is a good resource as well. Even the best therapeutic practice cannot exist alone, finding ways to collaborate and co-treat with other providers will serve you and your community well. Taking the time to educate yourself on which health care trends are emerging in your community is time well spent. Knowledge is power.
